Young Architects Forum

Mentoring is an important part of the architecture profession during all stages of career development, but at no stage is it more important than at the beginning. The YAF 15 Summit last year resulted in an action plan to focus modern mentoring initiatives on professional development, personal support, and practice area or specialty development. This podcast presents these ideals in three models of structured mentoring for use within architecture firms.

The College of Fellows has established a small grants fund to assist AIA components in the development of programs which foster the mission of Young Architects and Associates. These funds may be used to enhance the activities of an existing Emerging Professionals group or as seed money to help start a new one. Because one of the goals of the component grants program is to make Emerging Professionals groups a vital component activity, an explanation or demonstration of component commitment and support is essential.
All grants must be for a specific program or activity of a local, state, or regional Emerging Professionals group and should address at least one of the following: mentorship, ARE, and/or IDP initiatives. General component activities or programs are not eligible. All grants are made to an AIA component. There is a total of $40,000 available for the program this year with a maximum limit of $5,000 for each grant. Proposals with matching funds are encouraged.
Evaluation Criteria
In order to evaluate requests for component grant funding, special attention will be paid to:
Purpose—Is the purpose of the program consistent with the YAF and NAC missions? Will it assist the development of a local/state/regional chapter? Will it advance the professional development of Emerging Professionals?
Key participants—Are the program leaders AIA members? Emerging Professionals? Are there enough volunteers involved to accomplish the proposed activity?
Audience—Is the intended audience primarily Young Architects and Associates? Does the anticipated attendance warrant the expenditure?
Budget—Is it realistic for the project? Is there local support, such as contributions in-kind, money from a component(s) or sponsors? Are the participants’ fees realistic, neither too high nor too low for the value? Are there matching fundsas part of the proposal?
Component—Is this entity an established Emerging Professionals group with component backing? If new, does this group have the leadership and component support to grow into an on-going program?
Deadlines and Notification Schedule
Applications for funding in calendar year 2010 must be received no later than Monday, August 16, 2010. A jury composed of the COF Executive Committee, with one representative each from the NAC Executive Committee and the YAF Advisory Committee will review all applications in September. The jury reserves the right to make awards that are less than the amount requested. Applicants will be notified of their decision by October 22, 2010.
Submission
Please e-mail your application to cof@aia.org by Monday, August 16, 2010.
Questions
Please refer questions to Kecia Jackson, Executive Assistant, Member Value & Communications: phone, 202-626-7534 or cof@aia.org.

Please see pdf pamphlet at the bottom of this page:
http://www.aia.org/professionals/groups/epn/AIAS075198